Why you should visit Mexico City
Nestled in the heart of Mexico lies a vibrant metropolis that seamlessly blends rich history with modern flair—Mexico City. With its bustling streets, mouthwatering cuisine, and colorful cultural tapestry, Mexico City promises an unforgettable experience for any traveler. Recently, I had the opportunity to spend a weekend in this captivating city, and it exceeded all my expectations.
Last year, I was hosted on an educational trip (what we call a FAM in the industry) hosted by the Four Seasons Hotel. As part of the trip, myself and several other colleagues had a full itinerary where we experienced all there is to see to allow us to better sell this destination to clients. Given is was hosted by the Four Seasons, I stayed in their wonderfully appointed hotel (more on that later).
Follow below and allow me to share more!
Landing over this metropolis
It’s BIG
Mexico City (nicknamed CDMX), the capital of Mexico, is one of the largest and most vibrant cities in the world. With a population over 21 million people, it’s one of the most populous urban areas globally. At an elevation over 7,000 feet, it sits in a bowl surrounded by several volcanos over 10,000 feet high. Given it’s size and history, it’s known for its rich cultural heritage, blending indigenous Mesoamerican and Spanish colonial influences. It boasts numerous historic landmarks, including the Metropolitan Cathedral, Chapultepec Castle, and the ancient Aztec Templo Mayor.
The Historical Sights - Zocalo & City Center
After landing late morning & enjoying a light lunch, I set off with our guide to explore the Zócalo, one of the largest public squares in the world. Here, you'll find the magnificent Metropolitan Cathedral, a stunning example of Spanish colonial architecture.
After seeing the Zócalo, we walked to the Palacio de Bellas Artes. Built in the 19th Century, it’s home to fine arts including operas, plays, musicals. While the city is massive, many of the historical sights are well concentrated within the city center, there are even some Aztec ruins that are visible right from street level
Eat your way through the city!
OK let’s be honest here…the cathedrals & ruins are nice, but you come to Mexico City for the food! From street tacos al pastor that cost 50 cents each, to some of the finest restaurants in not only Latin America, but the world (4 restaurants in the top 100 globally), the food scene is amazing. Some of my personal highlights include more tacos than I can count, amazing seafood which surprised me given the location but they source it from the Gulf & Pacific, churros & hot chocolate, mezcal cocktails, and dinner at Rosetta (ranked # 49 in the world). Apart from the incredibly cheap (and delicious) street food, pricing at fine dining restaurants is half of what it would cost in a major city in the US. See some of the MANY food pictures I took above.
A hot air balloon ride over Teotihuacan
Nestled just outside Mexico City lies the complex of Teotihuacan, a over millennia-old pyramids. Teotihuacan, once a thriving metropolis and now an archaeological wonder, invites adventurers to explore its mysteries from a unique vantage point: the basket of a hot air balloon.
About an hour outside town, it was an early start as we met in the hotel lobby at 4:30 am and departed shortly. Once we arrived, hot coffee was waiting for us as balloons were inflated with hot air. As they started to rise, we all climbed abord the basket. What amazed me is as we started to float, I noticed there were dozens of other balloons which made the scene magical. The wind took us over the two Aztec ruins, the Pyramid of The Moon and Pyramid of the Sun. The Pyramid of the sun is actually larger than the pyramid of Giza, rising to 235 feet and the Pyramid of the Moon is 140 feet. It was a perfectly clear and calm day for the 45 minute float over these structure to appreciate their sheer size and scale.
Once we touched down, in true Four Seasons fashion we were taken to a small private home and treated to an amazing brunch in the courtyard. Both these experience I can arrange for you to enjoy.
The Four Seasons Mexico City
I would be remised not to speak about this beautiful hotel where I stayed for my 4 day visit. Located in the Roma Norte, a trendy upscale residential neighborhood, the hotel is an oasis of calm in an otherwise busy city. With a central courtyard that all rooms face into, you open your balcony and you don’t hear anything except the birds. After busy days, this respite is very welcome.
Hotel quality and service is exactly what you’d expect from the Four Seasons…top notch! There are two restaurants on site offering local food as well as Italian. Since Seek & Explore is a member of the Four Seasons Preferred Partner program, by booking through me you will receive at no additional cost:
Daily Breakfast for two
Upgrade if available
$100 hotel credit
Early check-in & late-check out
Welcome Amenity
While I enjoyed this hotel very much, there are others around the city of equal caliber whether you want a chain hotel such as the St. Regis or Sofitel or a smaller boutique hotel in the Roma Norte or La Condesa neighborhoods.
In Summary
Looking for a long weekend getaway that will make you feel like you’ve visited somewhere exotic and exciting, the Mexico City is perfect for you. With plenty of direct flights from New York and easy connections available in Dallas, Houston, or Atlanta, it only takes half a day to feel a world away. Between the history, sights, and of course the food, I promise you experience in CDMX will be a memorable one.
Let Seek & Explore plan a great weekend in this fantastic city!
